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David GoodallAn elderly Australian academic
Country:
 Australia |
Content:
- Professor David Goodall: A Centenarian's Plea
- Health Deterioration and Isolation
- Advocacy for Euthanasia
- Legal Hurdles
- Daughter's Perspective
- Unhappiness and a Final Wish
Professor David Goodall: A Centenarian's Plea
The Desire for DeathOn his 104th birthday, celebrated amidst family and friends, Dr. David Goodall, a distinguished Australian academic, made an extraordinary wish. He asked for death to come swiftly. "I want to die," Goodall declared, unperturbed by the prospect of mortality. "Why should I be sad? I see nothing sinister in this. Death is as natural as can be."
Health Deterioration and Isolation
Goodall's health has declined in recent times, affecting his ability to continue his university work. Impaired vision has hindered his reading of emails, and a fall in his apartment left him stranded for two days. "I fell backward and landed in the corner of the room, but I couldn't reach anything to pull myself up, so I just floundered on the floor," Goodall recounted. "I was shouting, but nobody seemed to hear me." An eventual visit from a cleaner alerted authorities, and Goodall received medical attention. He was prohibited from using public transport or crossing roads alone. "The forced dependency has been very distressing... Self-respect is gone, gone completely," Goodall lamented.
Advocacy for Euthanasia
For over two decades, Goodall has been associated with Exit International, an organization advocating for the legalization of euthanasia. He firmly believes that individuals past middle age should retain full human rights, including the option of assisted suicide. "In my view, an elderly person like myself should have all the rights of a younger person, including the right to euthanasia," Goodall asserted. "Once you've passed the average age of your peers, you no longer have anything to contribute to society towards your keep."
Legal Hurdles
In mid-2019, Victoria became the first Australian state to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill or irreversibly ill patients with a life expectancy of less than six months. However, Goodall's relatively stable health, albeit weakened by vision problems, precludes him from accessing the "death privilege." The Northern Territory's euthanasia law was repealed by the federal government in 1997. Western Australia has considered a euthanasia bill, while a study has suggested that Australians over 90 should have access to assisted suicide.
Daughter's Perspective
David Goodall's daughter, Karen Goodall-Smith, a clinical psychologist, has had candid conversations with her father about life and death. "I'm very close to my father," she stated, "and I don't want him to die." However, she acknowledges the diminished self-respect and dignity that can accompany dependency. "For my dad, the doors are closing off one by one as his health fails." Goodall-Smith emphasizes the importance of autonomy and the need for individuals to make their own end-of-life decisions. Together with her son and brother, she provides round-the-clock care for David, hoping to avoid placing him in an aged care facility.
Unhappiness and a Final Wish
When asked about his contentment on his birthday, Goodall responded succinctly, "No... I'm not happy. I want to die." His unwavering desire for a dignified and self-determined departure from life serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and challenges surrounding end-of-life decisions.
